MPS6 suspension set up - post your pics/specs

[High on PSI]

So, just wanted to get the confusion out of my head.
Aftermarket springs and shock, is it similar to coilovers? Worst or better? Do coilovers last longer?
Because for around the same price of getting the Eibach Springs, Bilstien B8 Shocks and having it fitted and alignment done etc. it is a similar price to the coilovers?
Will Eibach springs last or would they wear and tear too?

[2XS]

A good spring/shock combo will be better than coilovers of the same price.

Coilovers allow height adjustement and bump rebound adjustment (added cost during manufacture and it has to be passed onto the end purchaser)

If you know exactly what you want, then get springs/shocks.
Once they are fitted, you can't change the height or "feel" without incurring costs, whereas with coilovers, you can adjust the height and "feel" as mush as you want until you are happy.

I know of 3 customers who have purchased coilovers from me and have since lowered their cars after the initial install. One customer has lowered his twice since installation.

[High on PSI]

Thanks for clearing that up, and do aftermarket springs die? (wear and tear, soften up etc.)

[ted]

Technically, a coilover is simply the design where the coils (spring) sits on top or over the dampener (shock). So the front end of these cars are coil over by design, but the rear will not be with the multi link setup and the shock and spring separated. However, consumers have termed what are really small graduation height adjustable setups as coil overs. This height adjustment is via a threaded collar, which means you have more control over it than on more conventional shock/spring combos which can also be height adjustable via circlips and grooves in the actual dampener body that allows the bottom platform to be moved. Both setups also allow the adjustment of dampener "stiffness" if you pay for it. The more money you pay, the more adjustment you get (in general). So from a simple bump adjustment, all the way to bump/rebound and then multi speed bump/rebound.

One benefit of what most call coil overs now, is that they are a small ID (internal diameter) generic spring, which means you can alter spring rates relatively cheaply and easily. The spring does not need to be made specifically for your car. If you got a local product like a Kings spring, you can get them in 25lb increments of varying free lengths, and most Japanese ones have 1kg increments.

If you went with the conventional shock/spring combo, then the spring would need to be made specifically for your car, and matching that to a shock that is also designed for your car. This simply means that you have a lot less choice out there. Pretty much any spring will sag or soften over time, just the amount of time that varies.

Either way, as long as the dampener valving and the springs are well matched, you will end up with decent ride quality and handling. But get it wrong, and it may feel faster because of the stiffness, but in reality may not be because the dampeners are not controlling the oscillation of the springs well allowing the car body to bounce a few more times before coming to rest and allowing the tyres to lose good contact with the ground. And as a very general rule of thumb, I have found Euro suspension designers to use bump (compression stroke) more, and Japanese ones to use rebound more to control things.